Sewing-machine



(No Model.)

B. B. BALL.

SEWING MACHINE. No. 269,556; Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

N. PETERS. FlIclo-Lithngmpher. WaiuingtmnDC.

NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersv Patent No. 269,556, dated December 26, 1882, Application filed January 12, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sewing-Machines;

and 1 do hereby declare that the same are fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a double race formed of a single metallic plate, grooved, as shown, on its opposite sides for the passage of the needlesin different transverse planes,

and to a double shuttle-carrier adapted to rebar, and a vertical plate beneath its table,

grooved vertically on opposite sides in different transverse planes, with two shuttles-one each side of said 1:)late-reciprocating in a straight course in carriers running on suitable ways, the sides of said plate forming races for the twosh'uttles. One of the shuttles and one of the needles may be made adjustable longitudinally with relation to the other, so as to provide for entirely distinct parallel seams at varyingdistancesfrom each other, as the goods pass beneath the needles iu-a plane transverse to that of the shuttle movement. Any suitable shuttle-reciprccating apparatus may be employed to actuate the shuttle-carriers.

'lhe several features of my invention are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figurel represents a side view of the head of the machine and a vertical longitudinal section of the table, (at y 3 Fig. 2,) showing the two shuttles with part of the double race broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the double race, shuttles, and carrier, seen through the table, parts of which are broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the table, race, carriers, and sliding block, taken on the line as m, Fig. 2.

A is the overhanging arm, B the needle-bar,

and O O the needles, held by a suitable clamp at the foot of said bar at the desired distance from each other, the needle 0 being adjustable in various vertical notches in the clamp of the bar B, in order that the seams may be correspondingly separated.

D is the table of the machine.

E is a verticalplate, extending in a straight course centrally and lengthwise ot'the machine,

and so located as to receive the needle 0 on one side of it and the needle 0 on the other side, in grooves e and 0, respectively. There are a series of grooves 6 formed to receive the needle 0 in its various positions. None of these grooves is directly opposite to the groove 6, but they are located in different transverse planes from that groove, so that with goods passing transversely across'the table D the seams will be formed parallel to each other, rather than one upon the other, as would be the case with such movement of the goods it the needles reciprocated in grooves opposite to each other. The plate E c 0 may be cast integral with the table, but is preferably of steel, to resist wear, about one-eighth of an inch thick, and held in position by insertion in vertical slots formed in lugs F beneath the table.

G G are shuttles, mounted respectively in carriers H H, which, with the construction shown in the drawings, are secured to a grooved sliding block, J, reciprocated by a connectingrod, K, upon ways L, formedat the lower edge of the plate E, as will be clear from Fig. 3. It is, however, obvious that some other form of tracks may be providedsuch as parallel rodsand that the block K is not indispensable if the carriers H H are otherwise suitably supported and connected to the shuttle-driver.

I make one of the shuttles and carriers longi tudinally adjustable with relation to the other, that they may correspond with the positions of the needles. Such adjustment places one shuttle and its carrier slightly in advance of the other, but does not separate them laterally, since theyare at all times separated only by the thickness of the vertical plate E, against which each shuttle continually bears, the needles reciprocating vertically in grooves e e therein. This adjustment of needles and shuttles in a plane lengthwise of the machinecauses the seams to be simultaneously formed at corresponding distances from each other in the fabric fed crosswise over the table D, as will be obvious from the drawings. The adjustability of the shuttle G and its carrieris effected in this instance by means of a set-screw, M, which holds the carrier H to the sliding block J, the threaded bolt having an enlarged head, 1, working in a groove in the block J. Any equivalent device permitting said adjustment may be adopted. If preferred, the shuttles may he separately connected with the drivingrod Kin an adjustable manner. A gage or scale for accurate placing of the carrier is desirable.

The feed-surfaceNshould'beof such breadth as may be required to correspond with the distances of the needles and seams. I also provide two presser-feet, O O, to hold the goods in position, one presser near each needle. The foot 0 is laterally adjustable, so as to be placed in proper relation to the needle U in its various positions. The means of adjustment shown are simply a perforation in the presser-har, through which is passed the horizontally-bent stem of the presser O, which may be fixed in any desired position by a set-screw or other convenient device.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ in a sewing-machine two or more needles and two or more shuttles, since machines embodying such features have been proposed,in which the goods were passed through in a direction parallel with the shuttle-race. In some such cases the race-plate was solid, with a shuttle each side of it and asingle groove for each needle directly opposite to the other groove; but there was no possibility of adjustment of the distance of the seams. In other cases there were two race-plates-one for each shuttle-made adjustable toward and from each other. The essential peculiarity of my invention, as stated, is a solid verticallygrooved race-plate for both shuttles, extending lengthwise of the machine and at right angles to the line of movement of the goods, the grooves e e for the reciprocation of the adjustable needle being in different transverse planes from the groove 0 for the other. needle. (See Fig. 2.) On this plan parallel seams may be formed nearer together than is possible with any other arrangement, and the distance of such seams from each other may be varied as desired without changing the race-plate.

I claim as of my invention 1. In a sewing-machine ofotherwise suitable construction, two shuttles reciprocating in a straight course lengthwise 'of the machine, and a single vertically-grooved plate, E e e, as described, separating said shuttles and forming a race for each, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination of a single needle-bar carrying two needles,with t-wo shuttles reciprocating in a straight course lengthwise of the machine, and a single vertically-grooved race-plate, E e e, as shown,forming a race for each, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sewing-machine, the combination of two needles carried by one needle-bar, and two shuttles adapted to be reciprocated in a straight race lengthwise of the machine, and

a single vertically-grooved race-plate, E e e,

as shown, one of said needles and one of said shuttles being adjustable with relation to the other, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a sewing-machine having two needles and two shuttles, thevertical plate E,forming a race for each of the shuttles, in combination with the sliding block J, the carrier H, adjustable thereon, and suitable operative mechanism, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in a sewing-machine,

ot' a single needle-bar carrying two needles, a single presser-bar carrying two pressers, and a single vertically-grooved race-plate carrying two shuttles, one of said needles, pressers, and shuttles being adjustable with relation to the other, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a sewing-machine adapted to sew two seams simultaneously, the solid verticallygrooved race-plate E e 0, extending lengthwise ot' the machine, between the shuttles, the groove 6 being on one side of said plate and .two or more grooves, e, on the other side, but

not opposite to the groove 6, whereby variation of the distance of seams to be. sewed is effected by adjusting the shuttle Glengthwise of said plate and the needle 0 in the corresponding groove 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof 1 hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD B. BALL.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, E. A; PHELPs. 

